Hello! Carolyn Snap here. Remember me? I'm the heroine of this story! What do you mean you don't know who I am? Stop treating me like I'm some random NPC made up for convenience's sake!

Anyway, the twin brothers and I were forced to stay at a grungy hotel some few walking distance minutes away from a town. They told me that the town up ahead is the one just before their own. Unfortunately, there was only one free room left so I was forced to share a bedroom with them. I wanted to sleep so badly but couldn't because I had to maintain my guard - I was sharing a room with teenage boys! And we all know how hormonal those creatures are!

We ended up spending half the night talking and introducing ourselves. The boys names are Yun and Yang Lee. Yun is the elder brother and also the one with the big mouth. He tries to be this nice guy but he's really an egotistical jerk! God, I can't stand egotistical men! Yang is the younger brother. He's like the second vowel when two vowels stand beside each other - he barely talks. He didn't say much beside 3 one-word sentences and a few grunts. They're both street fighters and claim to be their hometown heroes. Personally, I think they're in their own little world when they said that.

Whatever, I don't care. I just wanna go home. I've had it. My feet hurt, I have a headache, and I just want to go home and relax in a nice, warm bubble bath.

"Stop! Thief!"

Any travel home would not be complete with at least one casuality occuring. Yun, Yang and Carolyn already had their share of troubles. But, as they continued down the busy roads, some random thung just had to steal an old lady's purse.

"What's that? In the distance?" Yun leaned over with one hand behind his ear. "Someone needs my help! FEAR NOT, MILADY, FOR YUN IS HERE TO SERVE YOU FOR GREAT JUSTICE!!!"

Carolyn and Yang blink-blinked as Yun tore off down the road. The elder brother was being silly again. Yun grabbed the purse away from the bad man, then chopped him in the back of the neck. The thug fell to the ground, unconscious. Both Carolyn and Yang watched in stupor as Yun handed the purse back to its owner.

"Here you go, ma'am."

"Oh! Thank you, sonny. I think you from the bottom of my heart." the woman would have bowed graciously if not for her back problem. "Now, I must be going..." She continued on, cane and all, to cross the street but stumbled.

"Here, ma'am! Let me help you." Yun supported the old woman with his arms as he helped her cross the street.

Carolyn and Yang were speechless.

'Brother has always tried his best to be a good defender.' Yang mused. 'But lately, he's forcing himself too hard to be good. What good is it to be something you're not? Because at this rate...' An image bubble appeared over his head of his elder brother clad in a Karate Gi with a yellow scarf, screaming as he launches an overpowered Zessho Hohou, "ZESSHO HOHOU HAYATE! CHESTO!" *POW*

Yang shifted uncomfortably. The thought was making him sick.

"Macho men make me sick too." Carolyn nodded in agreement. She and Yang were thinking of two different things entirely but that was beside the point.

Silence set in for awhile until the newspaper photographer was interrupted by her stomach growling. Yun and Yang looked at her funny. Carolyn blinked a few times, then laughed loudly to cover her embarassment.

"Wow...I didn't even realize how hungry I am. Hey guys, can we grab a bite to eat or something? There's got to be a decent diner around here somewhere..."

Yun paused. Slowly, he turned around. His eyes glinted evilly. "Did you say you're looking for a diner? Just leave it to me! My spider sense is tingling!"

Carolyn and Yang gave him weird looks.

"Erk, let's try that again. I'll just follow my nose!"

Their weird looks changed to looks of impatience.

Yun returned to them a mock-angry glare. Some people had no sense of humor. "Ok, seriously..." he gestured to a small diner place just up the street. "That place looks pretty good. Small places usually got great food. Let's go there."

Yang shrugged. "Fine with me."

In only a matter of minutes, the trio were in the diner and stuffing their faces full of delicious Chinese food.

"Yeefsh," Carolyn commented with her mouth full, "I feel wike I hafen't eafen in days."

Suddenly, the newspaper reporter appeared much less attractive to the older Lee brother.

Yun gaped as he held a bowl of noodles. Some noodles were half-eaten and hanging from his mouth. "Damn, I can't let you outdo me!" he cried, scarfing as much food as humanly possible.

Yang watched the two with half-opened eyes. "Finally - someone who eats just like my pig of a brother."

"You take that back!" Yun threw a bowl of rice at Yang.

Yang easily deflected the projectile with the back of his hand, sending it straight towards Carolyn.

Splat! The young woman came in contact, face to grain first, with the rice bowl. However, her first reaction wasn't physical, it was verbal. "Ack! EWWWWW! That's gross!! Geez, don't you men have any manners??"

"Manners? Ohh... yeaaahhh..." Yun shrugged. "Don't need 'em." He stuffed some meat uns in his mouth, then pointed to Carolyn's rice-covered head. "You gonna let that rice go to waste?"

"You mean the rice that's ALL IN MY HAIR?" Carolyn eyed Yun as her voice continuously dripped with sarcasm. "Oh no, Yun, I actually planned on shaving my head and making a nice little delight known as Rice a la Snap-Hair..."

"It'd make a great wig." Yun grinned.

"...you're confusing, you know that?"

"Yep! I know!" Yun continued to fill his bottomless pit.

Just then, a man clad in a black business suit approached them. He appeared not out of the ordinary. "Pardon me..."

Carolyn continued on with the elder twin brother as if the man was just there for convenience sake. "Oh great. Now look what you've done. You probably pissed this poor guy off with you stupid immature food-fight crap."

Yun shrugged. "When Chinese man throw food at other Chinese man, other Chinese man should throw food back."

The man laughed. "Oh no, it's nothing like that. Actually, I have a question to ask you two." He gestured to the twin brothers. "Are you the famed Lee brothers, Yun and Yang?"

Yang glared at the suited man suspiciously.

Yun waved his hand. "Please, please, no authographs."

Carolyn blink-blinked. "Wait a second... the famed Lee brothers?"

"You mean you didn't know?" the man asked.

Carolyn shook her head. 'If someone else is saying they're famous other than them, they must be popular. I guess they weren't kidding.'

"Well, these two boys you're sitting with are very well-known around these parts. They've done a lot of... good for the community." He leaned in close to whisper in Carolyn's ear, but spoke loudly enough for Yun and Yang to hear. "If I were you, young miss, I would keep your distance from these two. You're likely to get hurt..."

With that, he walked away.

"Who was that?" Carolyn wondered aloud.

Yun shrugged. "Some guy. How am I supposed to know?" He sighed and grinned. "It's hard being popular. So many fans, so little of us."

"You must understand the feeling." Yang agreed, his words directed to Carolyn.

Another man cut them off. This one was very large in height as well as build, clad in an apron and a chef's hat. He was none other than the restaurant manager and he didn't look too happy. "Hey! Were you the troublemakers who caused a potential ruckus?" He looked directly at Carolyn.

Carolyn jumped in shock. "Huh? N..no sir! It was him!" she cried, pointing a finger directly at Yun.

"You nuts? It was him!" Yun pointed to Yang.

"Uh..." Yang pointed to Carolyn.

The manager blink-blinked. "Wait a second...you're trying to confuse me, aren't you?! All right, that's it!" He raised a random big mallet over his head. "FEEEEEAAAAAAAR MY MALLET!!! THE GREAT HAMMER OF JUSTICE! I AM THOR!!"

Carolyn's eyes grew wide. "Meep! Let's run!!"

Yang, the human incarnation of the speed demon himself, tore out of the building first, followed by Carolyn who was dragging a still-eating Yun by the braid.

"... I didn't finish eating yet!"

"LATER!"

More hours of walking passed. Carolyn thought her feet were going to fall off. Just when they literally were about to fall off - or so she believed - the bare streets the trio were in suddenly became very populated with both buildings and people. Yun spun around in front of Carolyn and held out his hand for her to stop.

"Here we are!" the elder Lee brother made a grand gesture. "This is our village."

Carolyn wiped her forehead. "Well it's about time. I'm beat! How far is it to your place?"

"Not too far - pass downtown and we're right there! We'll be massaging your feet in no time." Yun grinned.

"Not we." Yang corrected.

Soon after, Carolyn found herself in the kitchen of the Lee household. The twins lived in a small, semi-detatched apartment. The walls were very dingy with water stains in various places. Kitchen utensils, pots, pans and even the fridge were overstocked and cluttered everywhere. But this kind of dinginess seemed to be typical in this area of Hong Kong. The twins were lucky to even live in a house. No matter how she looked at it, this place felt like a home.

"Not a bad place you got here..." Carolyn commented.

"Yeah! A home within a home." Yun grinned.

Slow creaking from the stairs brought the trio's attention the other way. Grandmother Lee hobbled down the stairs.

"Welcome back, Yun and Yang. How did your trip at the hot springs go?" Before they answered, she noticed Carolyn and continued. "I see that you have brought another lovely visitor with you. Welcome."

Carolyn smiled. "Hi, my name's Carolyn Snap. Nice to meet you." She stood and shook the old woman's hand - gently as the old woman looked like she had been through a lot of physical illness despite her livliness.

"My, what a sweet, young lady you two have brought. Make yourself at home, Carolyn. Would you like some tea?"

"Oh, that'd be wonderful, thanks."

Traditional Chinese tea was quickly brewed and served to the trio.

"I'll leave you three time to yourselves." Grandmother Lee bowed once again, then braced herself along the banister as she walked up the stairs and returned to her room.

"Great to be home..." Yun kicked his feet up on table only to be whapped by his brother for poor table manners in front of a lady. He quickly put his feet back down. "So, um, Carolyn, what were you doin' at that cult anyway?"

Carolyn sipped her tea. "Eh? Oh, that? I was..." It seemed safe to tell them the truth, "sent there on an assignment."

"Assignment?" Yang asked just as calmly.

Carolyn nodded. "Yeah. I work for Interpol."

"WHAT?? INTERPOL!?!?!" the twins yelped simultaneously before getting a grip on themselves.

That wasn't the reaction Ms. Snap was expecting. "Did I say something wrong?" she asked, confused and all innocent.

Yun and Yang looked at each other, then back at Carolyn, before Yun replied. "Nothin' wrong at all! I mean, it ain't every day you get to meet a real live person from Interpol, you know?"

Yang nodded in agreement, although giving Carolyn the occasional suspicious or wary stare.

"I see..." Carolyn called into the other room, "This tea is excellent, grandmother of Yun and Yang!"

"Why thank you, dear." Grandmother Lee called back from upstairs.

Yun gave Carolyn a funny look. "Hey, what's with the nice-routine?"

Carolyn smirked. "What nice routine?"

"I mean, with the way you were on your PMS rants earlier, it's a wonder that you'd have any common decency at all..."

"My WHAT?!?! Why you little..."

Grandmother Lee, from upstairs, cut them off. "Is something the matter, dear?"

"Eh? Oh nothing. Nothing at all. Yun and I were just... debating." Carolyn glared at Yun. "That's all!"

Yun shrugged. "Nothing to debate when facts are facts. So anyway," he kicked his feet on the table, "all you have to do to get home from here is to take a boat from the port and get back to the mainland. You'll be outta here in no time."

Carolyn rolled her eyes. "Great. And how do I manage that? I don't even know my way around this hick town."

Yang kicked Yun's shin from under the table. "Remember, you have to go somewhere today."

"Where?"

"You know..."

Yun paused. It took a moment for his brain to get a fix on what his brother was talking about. "Oh! Uh..." He glanced at Carolyn, then back to his brother. "Yang, since Carolyn has no clue how to get around this hick town, you show her around. I'll be right back!" He tipped his hat to his lady guest, then bolted off.

"What was that all about?" Carolyn wondered aloud.

"Just an errand he forgot to take care of." Yang replied.

Awkward silence filled the room soon after as neither knew what to say. Rather, Carolyn didn't know what to say since Yang barely spoke anyway.

Finally, Yang spoke. "Let's get going."

Carolyn nodded numbly.

Yang lead Carolyn down one of the main streets.

"That's our grocery over there. We used to run a restaurant but it burned down two years ago. Grandmother has reopened her business as a grocery since." Yang gestured to another area. "Many outdoor vendors and restaurants here. I suppose it's not different from many other Hong Kong villages, but home is home.

"It's nice around here, I like the quiet atmosphere. It's a helluva lot different from the craziness down at Interpol, let me tell you." Carolyn glanced to the side where a phone booth happened to be. Her observant eyes caught glimpse of a familiar-looking young man clad in white with a long braid speaking into the phone. His back was turned away from the general public and he was covering his mouth and the receiver with his hand. "Say isn't that...?"

"Here's a chicken with its head cut off." Yang held up a headless, bloody and still flailing chicken in front of the lady officer.

Carolyn gagged and smacked the chicken away, knocking some random pedestrian out cold. "EW! Gross! Geez, Yang, what's your problem?? I was just trying to tell you that your brother..." She looked at the phonebooth. Rather, the empty phonebooth. "...oh. Nevermind, then. I guess I was seeing things."

"Hmm... this place is busy. People often see things."

They continued on. Yang gestured to a wide open space with street cars and outdoor vendors. "This is considered central square by residents. Many street fights take place in this area. Brother likes to come here all the time."

Carolyn grinned maniacally. "Ooooh, street fights go on around here?" She cracked her knuckles. "I haven't been in a street fight in a loooooong time. Think any would be going on any time soon?"

Yang shrugged.

The American woman gave Yang a eyes-half-opened look. "You know, you really should learn to be more social." Carolyn tapped her foot impatiently and folded her arms. "I mean, seriously. I'm not exactly the most social person either, but at least I talk for goodness sake!"

"There's not much to say."

Carolyn sighed. "Well, I guess that's better than your brother. He doesn't seem to shut up!" She waited for a response but got none. "So...what else is around here?"

"Nothing much..." Yang trailed off. What else could he say? What could he tell an Interpol officer about this town, let alone any other normal citizen?

Bored, Carolyn took one last look at the mess of people. Old people, young people, business men, hungry people, and a boy wearing a blue cap talking to a suspicious man dressed in a black suit and shades.

Wait a minute. How many boys around here wear a blue cap with a skateboard on it?

"Okay," Carolyn nudged Yang, "now I know I'm not seeing things this time. Yang, look over there---"

"You sure you don't want the chicken?" Yang cut in, holding up the chicken with its head cut off again.

"EEEEEW! NOT AGAIN!!!!" Carolyn shrieked as she whapped the headless poultry away. A window crash and a loud REEEEOOOOWW of a cat is heard shortly after. "What's with you and those things??"

"Yo! What's with all the screaming? I swear, I could hear you all the way from the docks."

Carolyn whirled around. "Yun! There you are! What in good blazes were you --"

Yun grinned. "Missed me? Anyway, I got you a ride. The ferryboat leaves tomorrow. Just leave your name at the port guy. Tell 'em Yun Lee sent ya and you'll be crusin' for free."

"Uhh... yeah... thanks..."

"Anyway, it's getting late. Yang, let's take our lovely guest back home." Yun turned to Carolyn. "You can stay in my room."

Carolyn blushed. "WHAT? There's no way I'm sharing a room with you again..."

"I got some things to take care of tonight. I'll be out all night. 'Sides, if I get home before you, I'll crash on the couch or somethin'."

"Oh... okay. If you say so. But do clean the bedsheets before I sleep in your rat hole."

Carolyn had mixed feelings as she followed the twin brothers home.

That night, Yun made sure to check his e-mail before leaving the room to Carolyn. He opened the browser window and found a letter from none other than Makoto. The date was a long way back and probably had some cyber dust on it.

From: rindou_heir@tokyo.net
To: yunleesdaman@HKnet.net
Subject: What I've been doing

Hi Yun! (G)

Makoto here - if you can't guess from the Email. Gomen - I looked at your Email on your computer while you were in the shower before our... (sighs) date.

A funny thing happened to me on the way to the dojo...

(G) OK, that was lame.

Well, I got back to Tokyo and was dithering around... kind of avoiding having to tell Dad and auntie Kho-Om what happened to Rin-Rin and Roshon. (sniffles) Don't worry, I'm OK.

Well, I ran into Juni - you remember, I mentioned her on the way to Jokuzetsu? The *really* genki Shadoloo agent? and her partner, Juli. We talked for a bit, then it turned out they were sent to steal the amulet the Amazons sent to me for safekeeping.

I fought Juli-san - it was *weird,* I swear I've never fought her before and yet it was like I had. She was the same, it was like we each knew what the other would do! Well, we broke off, and I met them on Tokyo Tower that night.

We talked for a bit, and the amulet... kind of got tossed over the railing. Wasn't pleasant explaining *that* one, but I'm just glad I got to stay friends with Juni and nobody got hurt. (sigh) At least they shook me out of my funk.

Then something *Really* weird happened... and I'm not even going to talk about that until it's in person. So I hope I can see you again soon, 'cause this was weirder than *Anything* else I've ever gone to.

(sighs) I didn't think I would... but I miss you.
See you soon,
Steamroller Girl
(and if you *ever* call me that in public I'll whomp you good!)
Makoto

Yun chuckled. "I miss you too, Makoto." he whispered. Then, he looked around suspiciously to see if anyone heard him. Luckily, no one did.

There was another e-mail - this one from his other online friend. He skimmed through it. After finishing the read, he closed the browser window and smiled softly.

"Good luck to you." he spoke.

The computer was soon turned off. As Yun blinked, he swore that he saw something move outside his window from the corner of his eye. He shrugged. Probably the wind. But he closed the window anyway. You never know...

That night, Carolyn lay in Yun's bed, restless. She couldn't sleep. Not because she was in Yun's bed - that matress was rather comfortable, even with the crater indented in the center. All she could think of was seeing Yun at the phone booth and talking to a suspicious man.

'Come to think of it, this area has had reports of high Triad activity. Then again, so does the rest of Hong Kong... What else is new?' She paused. Any connection she could have made between Yun and Interpol's mortal enemy was shot down. That couldn't be true. Even though Yun and Yang acted like punks, they were heroes of justice too! 'Yeah, Carolyn. It's just your imagination acting up again.'

She turned over. More moments passed. She still couldn't sleep. And only now she knew why - this room was so damned hot. Honestly, did this boy never sleep with the window open or anything?

The Interpol officer opened the window. The second she let go of the wooden frame, shadows jumped from the trees outside, into the window and grabbed her around the mouth, forcing a smelling cloth onto her face, while the other grabbed her arms. Carolyn squealed and struggled, trying to lean forward in hopes of a back toss, but it was no use. She was severely overpowered.

Soon, the chemicals took their toll. Her squeals gradually became softer until she fell limp and unconscious. The shadows nodded to each other and carried her out the window.

Yang suddenly awoke from his sleep. Tsuchin, who was asleep beside him, meowed to ask if something was the matter.

"Something is... wrong..." Yang narrowed his eyes. "I swore I heard something from..."

With no more words wasted, the younger twin dragon ran with light steps to his brother's room. He opened the door.

Carolyn was gone.

All that was left was a half-opened window.

With a moan, Carolyn slowly opened her eyes. She tried to move but found herself bound by both rope and tape to a chair. Not just any chair - one that was bound to the ground by screws and metal. She tried to speak but was gagged and couldn't make a coherent word. Surrounding her were various men in black.

She was in a large, dark room. Nothing was in there but herself, the men and the black walls. There was a door at the far end of the wall which was soon opened by another man in black. This one didn't wear shades like the typical hitman. Instead, he appeared with the grace and confidence of a businessman. He smiled as he approached Carolyn.

Carolyn, however, was less than pleased. People may consider her stupid, but she was from Interpol, and even she knew where she was and who had kidnapped her.

"Triads!" she exclaimed. But, through her gag, it sounded more like, "Fuiiaff!"

"How perceptive, Ms. Snap. It is Ms. Snap, correct?" the businessman-like one spoke. His voice was sleek and calm with full awareness of what he was saying.

Translated, Carolyn started, "How did you --" but was cut off by a man in black waving a finger. Anyone with half a brain would know that she was searched and identified by the cards in her wallet.

"A wonderful catch, wouldn't you say?" the man continued. "A lovely Interpol agent found dead in the rivers of Hong Kong. Another accident, another casualty caused by a runaway car."

Carolyn's eyes widened. She recognised this man's face on top-secret Interpol records. This man was none other than Kao Ta - one of the richest and most powerful Triad crime lords in Hong Kong.

"You could say that your capture and soon death is no accident." Kao Ta smiled. "We know your every move thanks to our dear associates... Yun and Yang."